Kunle Adelabu
-Monarch promises to ask Gov. Sanwo-Olu to upgrade Ikorodu General Hospital
The Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi, and his queen, Olori Kudirat, on the new year day visited the General Hospital, Ikorodu, to present cash and gift items to the first baby in 2020.
Mrs Nneka Bardi, a 34-year-old woman whose boy was delivered at 12.01am at the hospital on the new year day, was presented with cash and some gift items by Oba Shotobi and his wife.
The hospital management and the Rotary Club also presented gift items to the lucky baby.
The second baby of the year, who is also a baby boy, was born at 12.05am. Her mother, 27-year-old Beauty Okwaghe was also presented with gifts items and cash by the royal family.
Other mothers who had just put to bed in the hospital were also given cash and gift items courtesy of Oba Shotobi and his wife.
Mrs Nneka Badri, mother of the first baby of the year, in a brief interview with The IMPACT, stated that she’s overwhelmed with joy by the gestures of the Ayangbure and his wife.
“I feel so happy and overwhelmed with joy. I appreciate Oba Shotobi, his Olori and everybody for the love and gifts.
“The hospital (General)is very nice contrary to all sorts of things that I have been hearing about it. The staff in this hospital are very nice. They are very good at their work. I delivered as soon as I came to the hospital.
“On behalf of my family, l want to thank the His Royal Majesty and his wife for their kindness. I want to thank them for showing me and my son love today. I pray that God will continue to bless them.
“God will continue to provide for them and protect them. He will grant them listening ears to know what the people want from them as the leaders of the community”, she prayed.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Oba Shotobi, he stated that the Ikorodu General hospital is a baby of the council of Obas and Chiefs in Ikorodu division.
“The Ikorodu General hospital is a baby of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in the division and we shall continue to support it.
“I met the tradition of giving gifts to the mothers in the hospital at every first day of a new year and I have continue with that since I mounted the throne four years ago.
“I appreciate all the doctors and nurses for the care they are giving to the mothers and their children.
“Our major aim is the first baby of the year but gifts and cash have also been given to other mothers in the wards too”, he stated.
The royal father, who was happy with the most of the mothers in the wards for delivering male children unlike last year that female children were delivered, jokingly said the feat was as a result of the prayers he offered to request for more male children in his kingdom.
He commended the new Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Olufunmi Bankole, and stated that he will give a good recommendation about her to the governor.
“The new Medical Director has been working effectively. We have been hearing great news about her. You can see the environment that it is neat and well organised. That is part of the reason we visited the hospital to see things by ourselves.
“We can see that all the doctors, nurses, those working in the kitchen and pharmacists are happy and the happiness is radiating all over the place. They are doing their job with passion.
“I will definitely see the Governor and tell him about this. Ikorodu General hospital deserves to be upgraded”, Oba Shotobi stated.
“I will continue to appeal to the people not to encroach on government land. Many people and groups are still going to develop this place and once the land has been encroached upon, it will be difficult for the government and other group to develop this place”, he appealed.
He stated that he will continue to talk with his chiefs to donate lands in their respective domains for the purpose of making lands available for medical facilities and other developments across Ikorodu community”.
Oba Shotobi also commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for given priority to health in the year 2020 budget which he described as a landmark in the history of Lagos State.
And while giving his new year message to the people of Ikorodu, the revered monarch urged them to regularly and promptly pay their taxes to support the government in raising the required money to finance this year’s budget.
